Here is an interesting story from the Vancouver Sun: The commoner who is to marry Sweden's crown princess next week has aristocratic roots, according to a new book.
Daniel Westling has been mocked for his provincial roots and country accent, and has undergone careful grooming by courtiers, language tutors and a public relations agency ahead of his marriage to Crown Princess Victoria on June 19. Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf was reportedly initially hostile to the idea of his 32-year-old daughter marrying the commoner.
But, according to the genealogist Bjorn Engstrom, the 36-year-old former fitness instructor is descended from both Swedish and Finnish aristocracy.
Daniel Westling has been mocked for his provincial roots and country accent, and has undergone careful grooming by courtiers, language tutors and a public relations agency ahead of his marriage to Crown Princess Victoria on June 19. Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf was reportedly initially hostile to the idea of his 32-year-old daughter marrying the commoner.
But, according to the genealogist Bjorn Engstrom, the 36-year-old former fitness instructor is descended from both Swedish and Finnish aristocracy.
Mr Westling can count among his distant relatives members of parliament, courtiers and royal retainers. Though, less impressively, one of his female ancestors was convicted of witchcraft.
You can read more at http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Country+marrying+Swedish+princess+aristocratic+blood+Genealogist/3133554/story.html
